Ex-POTUS Donald Trump has always straddled around controversies. However, he has luckily found supporters for his cause, combat sports entities being one of them. Found guilty of falsifying business records to hide a 2016 hush payment worth $130K, he was indicted on 34 counts in New York. Now, he has welterweight debutant Michael Chandler in his corner.
Trump’s relationship with UFC head honcho Dana White is a far and wide viral matter. The Republican Party nominee does not just parade himself as a fan; he is one. White even credits his high-profile backing as the foothold the company builds on. Now, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler reinforces that unanimity before facing Conor McGregor in a 5-round welterweight headliner.
You’ve been in my corner, now I’m in yours…You know where I stand…and you know who I stand with…See you at the top!
Michael Chandler via IG posts (@mikechandlermma)
Donald Trump was facing charges for propping $130,000 to his then-attorney Michael Cohen. The payment allegedly went to adult actress Stormy Daniels amid the 2016 election. Sentencing is on July 11. He faces a maximum penalty of 1⅓ to four years of prison time. Given his age and no prior criminal record, the former President could serve shorter. Trump has defiantly maintained that he is not guilty.
The conviction isn’t a bar to his service as president. If he regains the presidency, he would again have broad pardon power — but the federal authority would not vacate his state conviction. Consequently, many have voiced their support. Chandler, Tito Ortiz, and even Ryan Garcia notion for him to recover and run again.
Why the concord between Donald Trump and UFC matters?
His ardent association with White and the company meant a unison of two longtime Trump obsessions — combat sports and upholding his virility. Casting himself off as a “brawler” of sorts, the symbolism was hard to miss. Fighting on the good “fight” to survive, he dropped in on a night of UFC fight grinds; he even cameoed on a UFC podcast once.
Donald Trump_UFC (Source: (@ufc) on Threads/ (@kingryan) )He has supported many fighters. Colby Covington has always been a prime favorite; Jorge Masvidal even attended several of his speeches. Speaking at a “Latinos For Trump” event at Trump National Golf Club, Trump lauded ‘Gamebred’ as one of the best in the game. The then-President later spoke at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, praising fighter Kamaru Usman as the epitome of “black economic empowerment.”
Justin Gaethje and even Dricus Du Plessis are some other names the 77-year-old from Queen likes to associate with. At the time, the association felt like a rush job of saving grace from indictments. After 34 felony counts in March 2023, a federal grand jury pinned him on 31 counts of breaking the Espionage Act. However, White and the brass advocated his support as selfless.
Following this weekend, UFC 303, Live From T-Mobile Arena During International Fight Week, LV. sees Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler return for a welterweight main event. Like the Irish, Chandler also remains an active American counterpart of adhesion to political causes, supporting Trump through and through. The enormous support he garners only speaks volumes about his repertoire of specialties and fame.
